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I don't believe I've ever seen the levels of hysteria from our on-line support as I have in the last 48 hours. The manager should go. The board should go. The players aren't good enough etc etc etc. Yes, Saturday's performance wasn't good enough, but I don't see the need to go overboard. If we look at the 9 in a row seasons, only 4 had better league starts to the season than this one. Even the famous 92-93 season was worse at this stage. I hate to think what the internet would be like back then. We've qualified for the Champions League group stages. A fantastic feat, which appears to have been forgotten. We were in a European final a few months ago, the run to which have at least 5 games which would easily feature into my top 20 favourite Rangers games of all time. I don't believe any other season would have as many and wouldn't trade the memories of them that Gio helped give us. We didn't spend in the transfer window and I'm as disappointed as most on that, but there's a few potential reasons for that, including FFP, the SDI settlement being a lot higher than we'd thought, and future cashflows. We are still inherently loss-making and while we may be profitable last season and this season, we still need to plan ahead and look at next season and the cashflows required. There's even been allegations that the board are keeping the cash for themselves to repay their investments, but as he club will never pay dividends, that's patently untrue. Things may not be perfect at the moment but they're far from the disaster that many are suggesting.

So you're saying we should have a word in their shell-like?

The football landscape has changed since those heady days. You had Abderdeen, Motherwell and others who regularly took points from both us and Celtic. Now, the results of OF games determine the outcome of the league and we are more susceptible to dropping points outwith OF games. To be fair to those calling for Gio's head, this isn't just a recent phenomenon it's been happening (rightly or wrongly) since last season. His European record is fantastic, is domestic record is questionable, especially away from Ibrox. 2 heavy OF defeats in 3 visits to Parkhead isn't gonna get him plaudits. The board aren't going anywhere as we are not an attractive financial investment. We play in a provincial league with little domestic income. Punching above our weight in Europe has helped our brand awareness and brought in much needed finance. However, the board should never be above questioning and their "customer communication" is horrific. Things aren't perfect and haven't been since securing 55 - 1 ScottIsh Cup isn't a great return (isn't the worst eaither) especially when we were 6 points ahead when Gio took over. Europe has gotten him some grace (as it did with SG) but domestic form needs to improve and become consistently better or questions will remain and / or intensify.

Even with backing he still takes the Villa job, IMO. I was wanting him gone anyway; we were stale.

It should be becoming clear to everyone just how much the club was damaged in 2012 and how hard the climb back up really is. Winning 55 was always on when they announced Lennon was returning, otherwise I doubt it would have happened, and reaching Seville was some kind of a miracle that I still don't understand - but I think these also served to wake up the people in the east and remind them to strengthen their own efforts. I fully expect we will be the top dog again but more time is needed.

I would say a 50% success rate over a six year period. So 3 titles over the next 6 years (which would mean 4 out of 8). Don't think that is an unreasonable expectation. What we can't allow to happen is for them to have another 9-in-a-row opportunity

I thought it was quite funny. ☹️

Who knows with this team? Sneak a win/draw at Ajax, then draw/lose at Aberdeen. I would not be surprised.

Imagine we lived in a world of transparency where the board issued a communication and cleared this up for us.

Fück off. 😁 I've always been civil 😉

Aye, communicate the cold hard reality (without the fine detail) and how we intend to reach stated objectives. Everyone in it together Ps. Civil conversations between you and I make me think there might even be hope for Ukraine/Russia.

Yeah, but not me as I'd clam up.

An important part of this squad have in all seasons bar 55, shown themselves to be unable to keep together a consistent league season. When we got 55, we immediately handed the title back when we should have consolidated our position. They won't be for doing the same and we won't even get close.

And reasoned and well-made posts like this are fine and required. The club does need to be questioned but the whole toys out the pram attitude that we've seen elsewhere is of no help and in many cases is counterproductive.

Hulot! Hulot! We are the Billy Boys!

Realistically, all three of our group stage opponents should be giving us a hiding but this squad have exceeded expectations previously and can do it again.

GvB deserves to see out the CL groups. I agree with gunslinger though, if we go out of Europe and our domestic form doesn't improve, it might be time to look at alternatives. Our away form in 2022 has been nothing short of a disgrace.

Given his record in Europe we should give him this run at the CL. But if that goes bad or if their isn't a huge improvement in the league by the time we break up for the world cup we should use that break to find a new manager.

The last couple of days have been a very good example of why fans should never run football clubs. Financially, we still have a considerable distance to go but very few seem to want to accept this.

Havent read the full thread yet to get an idea of the overall opinion but I would say Gersnet over the years has always been more reserved and not so much knee jerk reactions. Gio seems a bit of a tactical genius in the Europa league but there is a pattern being created domestically of not changing it. On Saturday after 15 minutes I was screaming he needs to make at least one sub else it would be 3-0 by half time but he tried to ride the storm hoping we would come in the game. Its been seen many a time by the likes of Mourinho that he doesnt care how many minutes have gone in a game, if a change is needed then do it for tactical reasons at a minimum. FWIW I originally would have very slightly preferred Gattuso with his mass passion but overall thought Gio could perhaps be better for long term building - and it hasnt been one year yet so its to early to make a change now for me.

That was some forum user feedback. I adopted it in an attempt to inspire others. I can't tell if it is working or not. In this case I'm thinking about the prospect of facing Calvin Bassey. A chain is only as strong as the weakest link.

Kamara looked like he had no idea where he was supposed to be playing or what he was supposed to be doing. To me, he was asked to occupy McGregor but I don't think he got within three yards of him until he was hooked. But there's no point in moaning about one player or the other - the collective were shameful. utterly shameful in application and desire. For that the manager, needs to read the riot act to not just Morelos it seems.

Said yesterday the our board (and I've heard this from a very good source) have prioritised Europe over domestic success. As long as Gio or who ever is the manager continues to bring in £30-£40M from Europe, domestic negligence will be accepted. I don't see Gio doing a SG and leaving due to not being backed. Someone said yesterday that Celtic are our barometer. If that is the case, they have shown that you can't rule domestically as well as excelling in Europe. Their model is simple - win the league and get automatic qualification to CL. If that doesn't happen, sell 4 or 5 players at an profit. Also, if Celtic are our barometer, check the difference in transfer budgets - their spend dwarfs ours. There is so much wrong with our Club - ticketing, customer service, safe standing, catering, diasabled access to name a few issues and now we've been added to UEFA FFP watch-list, the purse strings are not going to be lossened. Our board are NOT what we need to take us forward but they aren't going anywhere soon so we're stuck with them. The league is not lost, but its now an uphill battle to get back into the race but with (financial) pressure on us to progress in Europe, all our energy and focus will be on that. After the sale of Aribo, Patterson and Bassey we don't have players sales to fall back on - Kamara would be the only player we could sell for a profit in the January transfer window. Bleak period ahead... unless this team clicks and goes unbeaten from now until end of season which I can't see happening.

For Scotland no, but given our position in Europe, we are very much the 'little guy'. Look at our group in CL--Rangers valuation is 30% that of Ajax, and Napoli..(~$400M)...~3% that of Liverpool ($4.4B). Having stated that, clubs of ANY size can encounter economic issues if directed improperly. Rangers should be completely aware of that.

Tanganyika was a far better name. Why these locals have to mess with our maps is beyond me. Same as Nyasaland, which I'd barely learned to spell when some other numpties had to change it. (it's a slow day)

I thought it raised the quality of the topic by an order of magnitude.

I think that's entirely reasonable, if a tad ambitious. Were it to be achieved I think it would be weighted towards the far end of that period.

Thats a yellow, bordering in red card.....😀

The board need to decide on a viable strategy, who they want to be in charge and make a realistic call. Personally, I think the new FFP rules point toward our own version of the Ajax model. Parts of it are (at least partly) already in place, eg. Improvement in youth development, early stages of player trading model, commerce, etc. .... looking to improve .... It won't happen but I would be looking at around the AGM time / WC break to go with it. Ruthless, yes but we won't get to where we want to be, as it stands. Timescales are always difficult and we may have to go a step backwards, to actually get to where we need to.

The alternative is to cross our fingers and hope the Gio can catch Celtic (which is unlikely) and continue to produce miracles in Europe. We're losing money either way.....

It isn't so much that it is currently a "disaster". It's more about the direction we are going. I said a while back that this squad (as it stood) was getting stale, had several issues and it wasn't going to achieve much this season. The OF match brought that into harsh focus. We operate in a two horse race. That isn't hysteria in my book. It is rational thought after looking at what is going on. To simply take a more optimistic view is just as valid but I don't think it would be easy to justify.

I see no reason why Lowry, King and McRorie shouldn't already be challenging for regular starts. Especially since none of them appear to have particularly strong competition, especially in the case of King.

It should be our aspiration. Look at how young Ajax's team are, I don't believe for a second they don't have as much pressure on them as we do. But Scotland does not produce very good players, Holland does, so ambitious recruitment at young ages is the only solution. I don't know why we don't recruit young players directly from South America either. Clubs around Europe are making a fortune from selling on South Americans. It's obviously not that hard to get a work permit considering Celtic got one for their left back.

The changing regulation allied to the environment we operate in may end up meaning it is the only way to go.

That depends on their level, the coaching and a manager who is prepared to trust them. From a strategic POV, it shows some foresight. The difficulty at a club like Rangers, is for under pressure managers putting them in. Perhaps, a clear and well communicated strategy could prepare the support in showing some patience. I fully realise how difficult that would be but with FFP, is there another way ? The Ajax model has been talked about for years. We need to stop talking and DO something similar.

I'd agree that it would probably be unreasonable, costly and generally seen as kneejerk to axe GVB just now. On the other hand, speculative argument, but how long do you give something that is (or appears) destined to fail.

It does no such thing!

These aren’t a bunch of plumbers and accountants, they’re experienced professional sportsmen. If they’re ignoring basics that should be second nature then there’s a reason and it’s usually found in conflict of one kind or another within the squad.

It's very difficult to vote as no-one did their job effectively. Barisic can perhaps be given some credit for some reasonable attacking play but he was as culpable as anyone else defensively. Kent had one or two pieces of good play but his end product was non-existent. Sands coped well one minute then floundered the next. I don't think anyone else did anything of note in a positive sense - maybe Wright for a couple of decent bits of play but hey-ho. All in all, it's quite embarrassing to have to clutch at these straws so I can understand why some folk would rather not vote.

The selection really wasn't the problem yesterday. The truth is that we are slack. I can't understand why. We can't coast against other S.P.F.L. sides so why should we be able to against Celtic? That's true even before you consider the work ethic of this Celtic side. While Kent appealed for a throw in at the first goal I was shouting for him to get his head back in the game and defend. No surprise that a goal followed. I hate watching our players shout at the ref for stuff like that. No shortage of other examples of the problem.

Time for the January thread so that I can speculate about where Matondo and Ridvan will go on loan.

Feburary 2022 2 : Celtic 3 Rangers 0 17 : Dortmund 2 Rangers 4 20 : Dundee Utd 1 Rangers 1 24 : Rangers 2 Dortmund 2 27 : Rangers 2 Motherwell 2 Up and doon like a whore's knickers Lost a league (more or less) Famous result in Europe Can't see lightning striking twice in Europe Better win ALL domestic games

About 50/50 then, if you're an SNP supporter 😆 As always the problem is who do you replace him with, how much would it cost to remove him and his team, and how much compensation would we have to pay for a new management team. Unless we're going with someone currently out of work? If we win on Wednesday, wonder how much the poll would change!